Notes from BushWorld

A poll taken by the American Research Group found Americans evenly divided on the question of whether the U.S. House of Representatives should start impeachment proceedings against George W. Bush, with 45 percent for impeachment and 46 percent against (The Boston Herald, 7/8/07). In contrast, only 26 percent favored the impeachment and removal of Bill Clinton when the Republican-controlled House of Representatives impeached him in 1998.

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The recent release of the infamous “DC Madam’s” phone records has claimed its first elected victim, and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Senator David Vitter (R-LA) is the sanctimonious, defender of family-values that called on Clinton to resign because of his marital infidelity and has stated that there is no issue more important than a Constitutional amendment to “protect the sanctity of traditional marriages” (CNN, 6/6/06). Supposedly, Vitter’s wife and his God have forgiven him--let’s hope the voters of Louisiana hold Vitter to his own standard and demand his resignation.

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A Gallup poll (7/9/07) reports President Bush’s disapproval rate at 66 percent--the same as Richard Nixon’s the week before he resigned over the Watergate scandal.

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Since Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff’s intestines have indicated an “increased risk” of a terrorist attack this summer, it is hard to understand why the Bush Administration has failed to fill a quarter of the top leadership positions in the Department of Homeland Security (The Washington Post, 7/8/07)? If “Loyal Bushies” are getting too hard to find, they could try hiring some competent, qualified people for a change.

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The FBI has proposed a new $5 million program designed to skirt federal laws which prohibit it from collecting and storing data on Americans, unless they pertain to specific investigations. The plan is to pay private companies (Translate that: Republican-connected companies) to store phone and Internet activity records on millions of innocent Americans (ABC News, 7/10/07). Aren’t these the people we pay to enforce our laws--not figure out new ways to break them?

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A Newsweek poll (July 2-9 issue) found that 41 percent of Americans still believe that Saddam Hussein was directly involved in the attacks on 9/11, even though there is no evidence whatsoever to support this belief. If you’re wondering how Americans can stay so misinformed in this age of mass communications, consider the recent survey conducted by the Center for American Progress and Free Press, which found that 91 percent of talk radio owned by the top five commercial stations is conservative. Ninety-two percent of their stations do not broadcast a single minute of progressive talk radio programming.

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Mr. Bush’s invasion of Afghanistan has been a real boon to the Afghan economy. Opium production is up almost 50 percent, pushing global production to a record high (U.N. Report, June 2007). Afghanistan now accounts for 92 percent of illicit opium production, up from 70 percent before the War.

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After not vetoing a single appropriations bill and allowing the Republican-controlled Congress to spend “like drunken sailors” for six years, Mr. Bush has suddenly decided to become fiscally responsible. Office of Management and Budget Director Rob Portman told reporters that “President Bush will veto bills that contain excessive spending, even if it means the possibility of a government shutdown” (CongressDaily, 6/20/07). Then, Mr. Portman announced his resignation, and another rat left the sinking ship of state.

Mick Youther is an American citizen, an independent voter, a veteran, a parent, a Christian, a scientist, a writer, and all-around nice guy who has been aroused from a comfortable apathy by the high crimes and misdemeanors of the Bush Administration.